Although water is the main source of life, in plumbing it can be the most detrimental and frustrate every homeowner. Fewer issues, minus a natural disaster, may cause so much damage to a home like a serious plumbing issue. Fortunately, homeowners can take a lot of steps to prevent plumbing nightmares and to minimize the effects when they occur.
You don’t want to end up with frozen pipes, so take preventive action, such as wrapping outside pipes with insulation, and keeping indoor temperatures above freezing at all times. It is easy for pipes to freeze whenever the mean temperature near the pipes drop below freezing. If they freeze, it will be awhile for them to gradually warm. Therefore, it will take some time for you to have running water again. But, they could also burst, causing a mess and a large repair bill.
Have a professional flush your septic tank every five years or so to keep it working well. This will keep sediment from hanging out in your tank and eventually causing there to be a backup in your home. It is a small price to pay now to keep your septic in good working order and prevent having to pay for a major repair caused by a backup.
Make sure all the work on your plumbing is scheduled at one time. It can be tempting to call a plumber each time you have a minor problem, but saving plumbing work for one time allows you to put money aside for the repairs. Most plumbers charge an hourly fee that can be minimized if there is only one visit to your home.
If water that is not supposed to be there is in the dishwasher, the likely culprit is a kitchen sink hose not properly attached. A hose that is properly installed should lead uphill, then downhill, to discourage water from each area from mixing.
Do not use your toilet to get rid of garbage. Don’t put disposable sanitary objects down the toilet. The sewage system cannot deal with these items and will become clogged. As well, keep your toilet paper usage to as little as possible.
Keep your dryer’s lint trap clean. This is a good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is fire safety. Be certain that you thoroughly inspect the trap to ensure there are no tears or holes that may allow lint to travel to the pipes.
A costly repair, in regards to plumbing, are frozen pipes. However, this can typically be prevented. If you have any pipes outside, have them properly insulated. When cold weather sets in, turn off your outside faucets, disconnect all hoses and drain them. Taking proper precautions can save you lots of money on plumbing bills.
Being properly informed and ready for any situation makes it much easier to avoid problems with plumbing. Knowing as much as you can about plumbing will lead to making sound decisions and avoiding costly plumbing problems. Furthermore, taking the initiative to thoroughly research and study the problem in advance of making repairs will save time and money.